Town to meet on budget today

Published 7:00 pm, Sunday, March 27, 2005

RIDGEFIELD - The Board of Finance will hold a public meeting on the proposed $106.4 million budget today at 7:30 p.m. at East Ridge Middle School.

The Board of Education submitted a $65.15 million budget, an increase of $4.8 million, or 7.99 percent, more than this year.

The Board of Selectmen proposed a town budget of $26.44 million at an increase of 5.96 percent.

Under the proposed budget, the mill rate would increase 7.77 percent to 23.73 mills.

"The Board of Finance is anxious for the public to give us their thoughts," said chairman Joseph Savino. "Our goal is to pass a budget that everybody can live with. Looking at this year's number on mill rate and spending increases, we realize they are close to what was rejected last year by 900 voters."

"Last year the Board of Education committed to a capped budget of 8 percent for 2005-06," Superintendent of Schools Kenneth Freeston said in an e-mail. "The board met its commitment to the town in part by bringing stability to the previously volatile cost centers of transportation and special education. We've also made reductions in spending and staff in order to keep our schools moving forward."

Freeston said had medical insurance increases remained flat, next year's proposed increase would be 5.19 percent.

The town's selectmen also are struggling with insurance costs. Along with a proposed budget of $26.44 million - an increase of 5.96 percent - the board also must finance capital projects of $650,000 and service debt of $14.17 million.

"Right from the beginning I knew it would be a difficult year just from the impact of increases from insurance," said First Selectman Rudy Marconi. "We are currently in negotiations with the insurance company for health insurance and hoping to decrease those premiums by some $300,000. If successful, that will reduce our requested increase to 4.8 percent."

Marconi said selectmen "hit everything we could" in making cuts. In addition to the high insurance costs are increases in fuel and utilities, salaries and pension contributions.

Richard Inserra of the town's Insurance Risk Committee, said at the March 15 Board of Finance meeting his committee is exploring possible cost savings by having the town assume a higher risk level in its health insurance coverage. Both Anthem and Cigna are presenting figures for consideration.

Savino said he hopes many residents will turn out for today's public hearing.

"We have to know if people are willing to step up and pay a 7.7 percent increase not only this year but for the next couple of years," Savino said. "The question is if people are willing to pay the level of taxes necessary to fund the level of spending presented by the Board of Education and the selectmen."
Contact Susan Tuz